Telegram is testing a new gaming feature under the working name Emoji Stake, according to Qazinform News Agency.
This comes amid a wave of state-level action targeting sweepstakes-style gaming, with Maine formally banning dual-currency sweepstakes and Florida and Tennessee taking similar steps to restrict or shut down platforms.
Analysis of the Android beta code shows the feature centres on a simple dice-rolling mechanic combined with virtual currency. Users can enter a stake amount and start a game round by tapping the "Save and Roll" button.
The system includes a streak mechanism which resets after three consecutive rolls or whenever the stake is changed. At the end of each round, participants can view the outcome of their own game and the results of other players.
Telegram Info notes that this is a limited test of an experimental platform and the feature is not yet widely available. No official launch date has been announced.
Earlier reports indicate that Telegram founder Pavel Durov has shown interest in interactive mini-games. In November 2025 he referenced a game in which a character navigates a French prison and encounters "shady characters", highlighting the company's ongoing exploration of gaming features.
Telegram's Emoji Stake feature could fall under regulatory scrutiny similar to Indiana's HB1052. The bill explicitly aims to prohibit sweepstakes platforms using dual-currency systems to simulate casino-style games, lotteries, bingo and sports betting.
The current beta, which limited to a small group of users, involves only virtual currency and does not include real money betting
